So Long, Jose: The Five Mysteries Of The Second Demise

[Anonymous]

So long, Jose: The Five Mysteries Of The Second Demise.

One of the greatest mysteries to have ever manifested itself on planet earth is the Bermuda triangle. Being an unresolved mystery that continuously generates huge controversy due to its deathly traction, it can best be compartmentalized into two categories- Fact and Fiction. Whichever line you fall in, the phenomenon nontheless is spell-binding.

Yet, the inhabitants of our planet just recently witnessed mysteries that really is still puzzling and equally mind-boggling. Jose Mourinho's astoundingly monumental capitulation in his second stint stoutly defies serious rationalizion and thorough dissection.

For a team that recorded commendable success last season (EPL title and Capital One Cup), the expectation from fans and neutrals going into the following season was, at least, to consolidate on the recent success, and, quite possibly, eclipse the domestic truimph with a European success. How wrong and stunned we all were!

The first sign of the impending doom surfaced when Arsene Wenger recorded his first victory over his arch-enemy – Mourinho. The outcome bore a suriprise that was swaddled in disbelief. As a matter of fact, Mourinho could decide to field a starting eleven comprising of academy players, ball boys, groundsmen, cooking and medical staff and would still get a positive result against Wenger. No kidding.

The negative results in the initial stage of the season was attributed to poor form that would eventually lapse. So we thought. Then it persisted. This time, the alibi was ill luck. Then again. And it was 'the whole universe is against us. Let's keep fighting 'em back, lads.' Then the referees were the antagonist in this spectacularly scribbled Shakespeare soccer script. When the pressure became enormously unprecedented, one Mourinho had never encountered before, it was the players turn to be the blame bearer; from implied accusation of power play to poor form, yada, yada, yada. Certainly anybody but him would suffice. Any one expecting the special one to dignifyingly sing 'but you can put the blame on me' song was really going to age in time for that to happen.

True, some of his key gladiators found it arduous to replicate their previous season form; nevertheless, being under the tutelage of The Special One means no player was excused from tapping into Mourinho's famed motivational skills.

Mystery 1- It became baffling when the never-say-die spirit Mourinho so immaculately repose in his players suddenly seemed exorcised. By who? You guessed it, supernatural forces in conjuction with principalities and powers resident in this world.

Mystery 2- Even more disconcerting was the alarming regularity Mourinho was losing the home games that he so usually wins. While he tasted his first league defeat at Stamford Bridge after 78 games at the hands of Sunderland, Chelsea have now lost four matches under him after 16 Epl games at the Bridge. In point of fact, Sunderland is the THIRD club to beat Mourinho at Stamford Bridge (116 games in ALL competitions), after Barcelona (2006) and Basel (2013). Talk of invincibilty seemingly evaporating.
In this era of sport betting, you could have wagered your properties, inheritance, personal belongings, etc, etc, on Chelsea overcoming anyone in the petrifying fortress called Stamford Bridge. Any thought of that now and you'd wish you were having a nightmare.

Mystery 3- Unlike his colleagues, Mourinho was excellent in securing results againt the so called Small Teams.
Yet, defeats to the likes of Southampton (home), West Ham (away), Leceister City (away), Bournemouth (home), Stoke City (away), Crystal Palace (home) was really 'unmourinho'.

[Anonymous]

Mystery 4- One the the hallmark of Mourinho teams is defensive solidity. However, what we witnessed in the course of this season was defensive naivity riddled with systemic frailty. So often a time, Chelsea's defending was erratic, shambolic, disorganised, and doesn't bear semblance to the typically imprenetrable unit Mourinho is reputed for forging. In 16 league games this season, Chelsea have conceded a staggering 26 goals. Looking at this astonishing figure, you'd think the players have been told they would be committing a grave offence if they do not let in a few goals every now and then.

Mystery 5- Every where Mourinho goes he commands unflinching allegiance and respect from his players. Aside from few players who were outcasted by him, majority of his players are continuously loyal to him even after departing their club. The likes of Materazzi (who cried when he left), Drogba, Lampard, et al, still keep in touch with him due to the bond created. So much was his enchanting influence that Wesley Sniedjer once adimitted, “I was ready to kill and die for him.”  Except he has a lifelong ambition to serve a prison sentence, the Dutch man certainly won't be too eager to convert words into action anytime soon.If anything, the chelsea team he just left- who he accused of betrayal- would be more than glad to admit good riddance rather true allegiance on his departure.

Meanwhile, as the season progressed, along with the unsavoury results, Pundits kept on providng patent reasons for Chelsea's faltering form, only for their observations to be disproved match after match. Not only was Chelsea's conundrum incomprehensible, it was logic-defying.

Though Mourinho has now encountered his most horrific spell in his otherwise successful managerial career spanning 15 years since he debuted at Benfica, nothing should be taken away from envious achievements he attained in several countries.

For a man whose second coming was touted to bring permanent salvation and consistent elevation, his return however has ended in rapid desertion and unprecedented humilation.

By Abayomi Kalejaye

[Author]

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